MELROSE – Four Sheriffs came from different directions Monday to sign a joint agreement that was far more functional than ceremonial. The fact they met at historic Mossman Hall wasn’t by …
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MELROSE – Four Sheriffs came from different directions Monday to sign a joint agreement that was far more functional than ceremonial.
The fact they met at historic Mossman Hall wasn’t by happenstance. Less than a mile in any direction would be in a different jurisdiction. One way was Bradford County. Another was Alachua. Another was Putnam. Another was Clay. In fact, tiny Melrose is carved into all four counties.
Hence, the Four Corners Agreement.
“We know that crime has no boundaries,” Clay County Sheriff Michelle Cook said. “We know that criminals don't care about jurisdictional lines. And for me, the intent of the four-corner renewal is more than ceremonial. It's really about protecting the men and women who come back every single day to keep this community safe. I appreciate the other sheriffs willing to enter into this agreement.”
Clay and Bradford deputies worked together to stop a group of armed men who were robbing the Keystone Heights RV Resort. Cook said that kind of cooperation is why the agreement is necessary when four counties are so closely aligned.
“It’s because of these agreements that are in place that we're able to seamlessly do this and seamlessly go back to the people that are out there trying to threaten to opportunities,” she said.
Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith, Alachua County Sheriff Emery Gainey and Putnam County Sheriff H.D. “Gator” DeLoach joined Cook in signing four copies of the agreement.
“I'll get straight to it: this agreement does one thing,” Smith said. “The men and women already said it's about catching the bad guys. We have boundaries, and taking those boundaries away allows us to do the right thing. That's really what it's all about.”
The Four Corners Agreement was initially drawn up on March 24, 2008, by Clay Sheriff Rick Beseler, Putnam Sheriff Dean Kelly, Alachua Sheriff Sadie Darnell and Bradford Sheriff Bob Milner.
The agreement has fortified the commitment between the four agencies since.
“We want everyone to know our citizens, our communities, but also bad guys – you may see a different name stuck on a car, but you're going to jail,” Gainey said.
